March 25th, 2025, 09:57 ET
The Miami Heat defeated the Golden State Warriors 112-86 in the game that marked the return of Jimmy Butler III to the arena that they called home for nearly six seasons.
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On the night that included pre-match tribute video and shattering early boos from the crowd, Butler finished with 11 points against his former teammate. The Warriors’ offense struggled without Stephen Curry.
Butler was traded on a five-team contract from Miami on February 5th, ending a fierce feud between the team that led to six All-Stars and two NBA Finals appearances. Despite Tuesday’s loss, the Warriors remained in playoff contest amidst the tough Western meetings, becoming 16-5 since Butler’s arrival. Butler has scored over 20 points on three of his last five outings, developing Quick Chemistry with Curry and Draymond Green.
In a season that is likely to be remembered for Butler’s long-term standoff with Heat’s general manager Pat Riley, the Heat had a second straight win following a 10-game skid. The team is 5-17 since trading Butler, but could reach the postseason as the Eastern Conference play-in team.
Here’s what stood out for NBA insiders from Tuesday’s game:
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Take home
In-game updates and analysis
Takeout after the match
Warriors have very few margins of error
The Warriors are unable to immediately bring Stephen Curry back from his pelvic contempt. Curry’s injuries suddenly halted the incredible momentum the team had built since trading with Butler in early February. During Butler’s first game with the Warriors and Curry’s injury, Golden State was a net rating of 16-3 (tie with lightning for the highest record in that span).
But now without curry, the Warriors have two games in the row against their sub.500 Eastern Conference opponents, with four remaining games remaining on the long road trip. If curry cannot return soon, Golden State’s potential playoff passes can be quite challenging.
All games are important in tough races for playoffs and play inseeds. According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Warriors, who entered Tuesday, were at least 10% likely to finish at all spots from fourth to eighth to eighth in the Western Conference standings. However, after a blown defeat in Miami, they have half-games on both the sixth seeded LA Clippers and the Minnesota Timberwolves – and the final automatic playoff berth.
If the Warriors fall behind any of these teams, they will be stuck in their third play-in tournament in five years. Warriors fans wouldn’t need to remind them that this happened twice other times as the team failed to move from play-in to the actual playoffs. – Zach Crum
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Jimmy Butler receives a warm welcome in return with Miami
Jimmy Butler will be featured for the first time since he was traded with the Warriors, and the Miami crowd is welcomed by him.
Miami’s uncertainty despite beating Butler
Tuesday’s victory was one of the few bright spots that was a disastrous march that weakened the Heat season. Defeating Butler is of limited value, especially as curry is lacking. To highlight tanking status at the Eastern Conference, the Heat lost 10 consecutive games this month… and still, five games were cleared from 11th place Toronto in the final play-in spot. We’re off track.
The heat has a long history of great personnel decisions. However, the past year has not been the best. Terry Rosier’s trade at the 2024 trade deadline did not work. Last summer they gave Bam Adebayo a maximum extension of $166 million – they probably had to, honestly – but he responded by having the lowest power season of the last decade.
And this week, Butler revealed how the fever misunderstood his situation when he knew what direction I was going. [before the season]. But no one ever asked me. ”
He thought the heat could defer Butler’s desire to extend, and he would focus on this season. It was clearly not, and the fallout from that error in that judgment continues. – Brian Windholst
